Apparatus for prevention of dust on motor-vehicles.



J. WIDERKEHR.

APPARATUS FOR PREVENTION OF DUST ON MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION PILED SEPT. 29, 1913.

1 ,092,41 6 Patented-Apr. 7, 1914.

Fig. 1 b d c lg E a,

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0 .WASHINDTON. D, cv

JOSEPH WIDERKEHR, 0F COLMAR, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR PREVENTION OF DUST ON MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

Application filed September 29, 1913. Serial No. 792,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH VVIDERKEHR, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Lozelbacherstrasse 68, Colmar, AL sace, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Prevention ofrDust on Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for preventing the raising the dust on roads by motor vehicles; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of ancxample, a method of carrying out the invention as applied to a motor car.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with the body work removed; Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1;

and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showmg the direction of the different currents which come into play.

The back axle a of the carriage in the example given is driven by chains 6 actuated by a transverse shaft 0. The mud guards d of the back wheels carry air channels 0 into which the air is drawn when the carriage moves. The air channels 6 open into the turbines f constructed in the form of ventilators and worked by the shaft 0, by means of a transmission which can be of any suitable kind and which is not shown in the drawing. The mud guards d, the air channels 6 and the turbines f are attached together and are carried by the brackets f connected to the back axle so that the parts are supported independently of the movement of the springs, and remain always a constant distance away from the road which is an essential condition of its acting properly.

Under the chassis g is stretched a cloth h (Fig. 1) which covers the whole length and width of the carriage and which is downwardly inclined from the front toward the back. The cloth h is intended to depress the dust earthward which has been raised by the air currents, and to direct it toward the turbines f. \Vith this object provision has been made by the inwardly curved guide ways i which deflect the air charged with dust from its course and direct it toward the air vortex emanating from the turbines so that it reinforces the whirling action thereof. Similarly the exhaust gases carried away from the motor of the car are carried below the cover it. With this object, the exhaust pipe j passes through an opening in the cover it and divides into two branches y' (Figs. 2 and 3). The branches 7' are slotted for the whole of their length in horizontal plan so that the escaping gases are expelled in the direction of the arrows on and mix themselves with the dust laden air which is displaced in the direction of the arrows y (Fig. 3).

On the end of the axles of the carriage there are fixed mud guards 71:. These serve at the same time to control the air currents charged with the dust which has been raised laterally by the wheels of the carriage, and direct them in the direction of the arrows 2 to the center of the vortex which is formed by the turbines in the direction 2.

The arrow it indicates the direction of the movement of the carriage and the arrow '21 indicates the direction of the air, which when the carriage moves, rushes inward at the back of the same.

The apparatus works as follows z-JVhile the carriage moves in the direction indicated by the arrows u, the turbines come into play by reason of the rotation of the shaft 0. They draw the air into the air channels e and emit a current of air directed obliquely downward (in the direction of the arrow t). This whirling is reinforced by the dust laden air 1 which, mixed with the exhaust gases has been collected by the guide wings 2'. The air vortex t neutralizes in part the current of dusty air coming from the wheels in the direction of the arrows z and also the current of air rushing in at the back of the carriage in the direction of the arrows o.

In order to obtain satisfactory working of the system it is essential that the speed of the ventilators f should be proportioned to the speed of the carriage. This condition has been attained in the example shown by driving the ventilators 6 through the shaft 0 but it can be done in other ways. Under these conditions the energy of the vortex escaping from the ventilators f grows simultaneously with that of the dust vortex raised by the carriage so that these eddies are exactly neutralized for all speeds of progression.

It is quite evident that the invention is not limited to the method of carrying it out just described, and that it can be carried out by varied means based. on the same principle within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. in apparatus for preventing the raising of dust by automobiles, the combination of a sheet stretched longitudinally underneath the chassis thereof and downwardly inclined toward the rear, guide ways arranged to deflect the air current under the automobile so as to strengthen its whirling movements at the rear, air channels on the mud guards, means provided at the base thereof for causing a whirling movement of the air passing therethrough in augmentation of the whirling movement of the guide ways, and means for carrying back the exhaust gases of the motor and discharging them in the said guide ways, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In apparatus for preventing the raising of dust by automobiles the combination of a sheet stretched longitudinally un- 'derneath the chassis thereof and downwardly inclined toward the rear, guide Ways arranged to deflect the air current under the automobile so as to strengthen its whirling movements at the rear air channels on the mud guards, a turbine fan driven from the motor of the automobile and supported with the mudguard from theback axle casing for causing a whirling movement of the air passing through the air channel in augmentation of the whirling movement of the guide ways, a slotted breeches pipe for carrying back the exhaust gases of the motor one leg of the breeches pipe discharging in each guide way, and mud guards supported near the roadway from the axles of theautomobile for controlling the dust raised laterally by the wheels of the automobile, all substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence .oftwo witnesses.

, JOSEPH VVIDERKEHR, WVitnesses:

CHARLns A. HALLEY, J12, JACOB SCHMIDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

